The '91 Violence

These pieces were created for a group show curated by Jonathan Allen titled, THE '91 VIOLENCE, as a reflection on the riots in Crown Heights, Brooklyn 25 years later. The work depicts a combined portrait of Gavin Cato and Yankel Rosenbaum, both victims of the riots in 1991. The IWW labor slogan "An injury to one is an injury to all" is borrowed for the title, alluding to what victims of the riots have in common: their communities continued exclusion from the economic prosperity experienced by the few during the current rebirth of Crown Heights. Part 1 is watercolor on paper, Part 2 is acrylic on a paver taken from the Eastern Parkway pedestrian/bike path, just blocks away from the crash scene that took Gavin Cato's life and blocks from where Yankel Rosenbaum was attacked.

FROM PRESS RELEASE:

A group art show in response to the layers of the riots in Crown Heights, Brooklyn 25 years later

THE ’91 VIOLENCE OPENS AUGUST 20 at Repair The World NYC on Nostrand Ave.

Curated by Jonathan Allen

New York, NY, August 15, 2016Repair the World is proud to announce a new exhibition featuring new artworks by local Brooklyn based artists that reflect on, and engage with the days between August 19 and 21, 1991 as well as the memories and aftermath of this time. THE ’91 VIOLENCE will be made of up a diverse range of perspectives on this complex and violent three days, race relations, police action during protests, and the trauma, injury, and death within the Crown Heights community that erupted 25 years ago.

The riots broke out in response to a car crash that resulted in the death of a Guyanese child, Gavin Cato and serious injury of another young person. Subsequent violence was turned against the Orthodox Jewish community resulting in the death of Yankel Rosenbaum.

“By looking back we can better understand our present, and make positive change for the future. There’s nothing new about making work to process traumatic events, but these artists are making poetic choices about what to say and how to share it, and their collective thought-provoking perspectives promise to be stirring.” – Jonathan Allen, Curator

“Our ground-floor community center is not a traditional art gallery, and attracts a diverse audience of volunteers, activists, artists, and art enthusiasts. It continues to be important to us to present context for contemporary conversations about education, volunteer and food justice, and we couldn’t be more proud to present this work on this anniversary.” – Cindy Greenberg, Repair the World NYC Director